Haunted Mansion

Image: DisneySome amusement parks have scary haunted houses while others have silly ones. Your Disney-hating friend will expect one or the other when you take them to Disneyland/Magic Kingdom. Since they probably think of Disney as a children’s park, my guess is that they’ll expect a silly haunted house.

Once your guest boards the Doom Buggy, they won’t be prepared for what comes next. After all, they’ve underestimated Imagineers, expecting these cast members to pick or the other. At Disney, all ideas are possible, and Haunted Mansion embodies this notion.

During this journey through the supernatural realm, your friend will laugh at times. Then, their mood will quickly change to abject fear when an ominous bride’s backstory is revealed. Just when they’re ready to believe that Disney’s all about darkness, a raucous ride through a cemetery will change their tune. Specifically, the tune is Grim Grinning Ghosts, and it will leave your companion feeling confused but euphoric.  

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Image: DisneyWhen you take a skeptic to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, their first fear will involve their sense of smell. Everyone knows that zoos stink because the natural habitats of animals are odiferous. Once they enter the park, they’ll already feel impressed that Disney’s done the impossible by somehow counteracting this stench.

Once you take your guest on Kilimanjaro Safaris, they’ll feel blown away by the depth and scope of Disney’s triumph. It’s a theme park that shares the same space with a zoo, and this ride exemplifies the duality of the two concepts. Your friend won’t believe their eyes as they travel past the homes of countless species, each of which is so used to the vehicles by this point that they may not even acknowledge humans.